Loading machine



June 5, 1945.

Nv o Ot June 5, 1945. E. G. I Ewls LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTo/E'. EDWARD G. Lrfwnsl June 5, 1945. E. G. LEWISLOADINQ MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w, Rw f mnov. L VQ.mmm. uwvbM E .Y .ww -B ATT June 5,V 1945. E. G. LEWIS 2,377,505

. l LOADING` MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 4 /NVE/vTo/eEDWARD G. LEWIS,

I HTT'Y June 5, 1945.

E. G. LEWIS LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. l. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 --uLLUNITEDSTATES 1 ingiset forth in the appended claims.

Pefented June 5, 1945` d PATENT eeeee a y e e LoADINGMAoHmn e x t 1 t1,:Edward G.`Lewisf,1;enaen,ohidlessigner te The Jerey Manu actiirngQompanypacorpora- `ApplicationAugust `1, 1941,` serial Ne; 405,058

" H30 claims.' (cruz-721i f This invention relates to loading -Inachinespar-4 ticularlyadapted for loadinglcoal ina coal mine, and one oi" itsobjects is theprovisionof 'improved power-transmission mechanism foroperating traveling conveyor `n1eans1 embodied 1in the 1mgchinefm 1 1111 't '19.1.

v Another object er the inventien" i'sgthe provision of clutch`controlled reversible 1poWer-transmis sion mechanismfor propellingmeans othe load` ing machine.

A further object efthe `ir/enti@n 1e te provide f f1 a-novel"controlling means forfajfpluralityof trib; tion clutches,` particularlyuseful jin connection With-loading'inachines.

` More particularly `it is the objectof thepresent invention rto providefriction clutch'contrdlled `ref Versible` power-transmission `means forloading machinepropelling means `,and cable reelr`r1'echa`,`V nism sothat as `the "machine lin'cves lforward, the

cable "reel mayfbe paidout and as the'machine Other` objectstheinvention v/,ill appear hereinafter, the novel featuresand.:combinations` be-` In the ac,compamrirlg(.lrawings` f y Fig.`1` isavertical longi udinalsectional .view of the `loader comprising myventio'n "showingpan:y ticularly the rear endportion thereof `A Fig, '2represents a sectionalljplan` View ,of the power-transmission mechanismfor the gathering conveyorand power-transmission mechanism rfor the.cable reeltogether with Vthetruck propelling' 1 machine embodyingmyimprovements; t "FigL 4 is a transversesectional View taken on the line`4`4v1of flf'liglfl looking `in `the direction of` 1thearrotirs;` i 1Fig. 8 is an `elevational viewnof themanual 1 mechanism 'for operatingthe -ffriction'1 clutches;

nnen-somiglia; l 1 1 rie '10 isaseciofralflevatioe iakenonihelzieFi`g.1"9 "is1 a. sectional plan View -taken on moves'rearwardly, thecable `reellmay be 4wound l up. 1 l l 1.0;10 er Fig.' amakinginthescdireetien ver the arrows;` i 11 1 Figs; 11,f11'2and 13 areenlarged detail `vlewsof the lostemotionconnectionsbetween the lever ofFigexa and 1o and the nietleniclutehes .shown in H 11Fig; `.4',v Fig.w12 being a section taken Aon the 1 line |2-l2 offiFig. `11 lookingdnthe direction of the the arrows;1and 1 1 Y -;1Fig.14is1anotherdetail-view, 1j Y e e t The loading machine illustrated Lin the.accompanyingdrawings comprises atrack mountedV truck 40 :upon which ismounted 11a gathering con--` veyor 1.44 and adischargeconveyori42,ftheiformer being adaptedlto dig :into andegatherloose `or semi-compactfcoal andconveyit to the latterby` which" it'1 isdischarged intotrack mounted coal e cars.` V-w111 be hereinafter`described. 1n 'compete detail, powerimeans is provided to .propel theloading? machine 1' along a mine track1lat `a relatively l'fastspeedfand to operatefitalong such mine track 1 at ra fedingtor operating-speed vWhilev at the same time operating the 1gatheringtand`dis- 1charge conveyors together and load coal into coal cars. 1 1 1 The Atruck40 comprises 4a main `iframe formed t byllongitudinally extending sidefrnembersJM rigidly attached together at theirforward ends 'by an*arcuate 2 cross-piece preferably welded tothe side members land rigidlyattached at their rear ends,` =asby"welding, toan arcuetecrossgpiece I6(lig.s21)` having 4removably 1.a`ttached thereto an arcuate Jbumperplate v4l held' in place `by nuts and bolts. 1 g

t Adjacent its forward end the main -frame comprises a Jbed1plate 491(Fig. `12) rigidly attached to the tops 1- of {the side members( 4`4and iront crosspieceaslbywelding. Thegathering conveyor 4| I1 and thedrive vmeans therefor-=are supported on `thisbedplateau. 1 Adjacent itsrear -cnd,\thejmain frame is provided with a bed platell '(Fig`. '21)which is rigidly attached to` `the bottoms of the side members Msupports the-.single drive electric motor 224wl1ich drives all oftheapparatusonfthe loading machine and supports most of thepower-transmission gearing for controlling fthe loading machine.

The truck 40 `s mounted uponapair of forward track engaging flanged`Wheels 5 I. The truck 40 `isalso provided fth rear track engagingflanged wheels V56,156 mounted upon-axle '51 journaled inbearlngrboxesja, 58 ewige-2e) -slidablelngitudil vide within the hopperIit is driven, as hereinafter described "in' full d'e tail. It is thusevident that driving power will be supplied to all the track engagingwheels.

It will be evident that the thrusts receivelby- I the gathering conveyor4| willY be transmitted to the truck 49 through thecasting13and`ftherefore this casting and the Journalbearing 19asis'mounted at its top ina sociated therewith are made of very ruggedconstruction.

The bottom plate 69 is removably the casting 1 3 by a threaded ring 16the top `oflthe said-casting 13 and held locked by a set screw. i. .If-xw The discharge conveyor 42 comprises three'articulated partsincludingastationary. hopper `|55 supported upon the `front .bed plate 149 ofthe truck l49 by spaced side brackets? This hopper comprisesispacedside. members |58 and'ga downwardly inclined rear chutefor-med integralwith said side platesy |58. Thechuteis adapted toreceive the material,such as from the rear end of `thegathering.v conveyor 4|. Pivotallyattached tolthe hopper |55 by means of spaced side brackets |66,.|56(Fig.y 1) carried by the `sidelmembers I61,;=|61 andjournjaled on pins.|68,y |68,.is a discharge boom dent that the boom :|69 is pivoted abouta horizontaluaxis formed by, pins |68 for' vertical swinging movementwith respect to the hopper, I 55 and the truck 49. The discharge boom|69 is formed [59. It is eVv threaded to coal, as, it;4 discharges .1

in two parts comprising-theforward part |19 and .i

the rear part, |1| lwhich are pivotally attached about a verticallaxis,the rearward part 1| vbeing swingableyhorizontally about such verticalaxis. The forward part |19; of the boom |69 comprises a bott omplate |12which-acts: somewhat as a continuation of the bottomiplate |62 ofthefhopper |55. i

y A guide sprocketforthe chain atthe rearmost'endof therear part |11.;

155515 vprovided At the forward end; of the discharge conveyor 42 I;proa` centrally disposed guide 'sprocket forthe chain |6 5.T1o efectthedriving of the chain |65 I provide a driveisprocket |89 (Fig. l) .p'l'omaintain the chain |65 in meshing relationjwith the drivesprocket;,|89. I provide a curved wear shoe |92 mounted -on thefalse-bottomplate |94.;

-The chainv |65 carriesaplurality ofspaced flights which', during -theupper vrun of thechain |65, are adapted-to' scrapeI over y the falsebottom plates |64, |13 andt |89 successively, thereby conveying materialrearwardly from the hopper |55 fordischarge into the mine cars. 1

- The rear end of thel discharge conveyorA section carrying a beveled v`a beveled ring gear 4.to the housing 228 of a friction clutch 229. The

wardly from the hopper |55. Due to this positioning of the electricmotor v224 it is possible to provide a very large and powerful motorwhich is capable of effecting any and all of the drives required at anytime while maintaining a machine of low height to permit its use in arelatively low roof mine or low vein coal mine. r

The electric motor 224-is provided (with a forwardly extending armatureshaft 225 (Fig. 1) drive pinion 226 meshing with 221 which is rigidlyattached housing 228 is keyed to a vertical shaft 239 which bracket 23|rigidly attached to the main frame of the truck 49. anti-friction ballbearing 232 is interposed between the bracket 23| and the shaft 239,which is held in place bya removable cap 233.

The bottom of the shaft 239 is supported '1n a bracket 234 (Fig. 4)formed rigid with the bottom plate 59, lsaid support being through anantifrictionball bearing 235.v Keyed to the lower end of the shaft 239and above the'ball vbearing .235, should be `noted that the gear 221 andthe gear 23'6 are both keyed tothe shaft,239,.xandrboth will thereforebe driven -together aty all times fromthe motor 224. the shaft 239 is aclutch member 231. `Splined ontheinterior of the housing 2x28Y and onthe exterrory of the clutch memberr231,which members 228and 231vcomprise co-operating' clutch members, is a YpluralityA of overlappingstacked friction plates 238, alternateones of which are connected tofthe housing 22'8Jnand the. clutch member 231, respectively. Adjacentits ,bottom the clutch member 231v is provided with anintegral extendedflange 239 to which isfsecured a gear 249;- The flange 239, in "additionto supporting the gearv249, also acts as one compression member. for thefriction clutch plates 238. i To effect thecompression oftheclutchplates 238 (Fig. 4) :andthus to effect'engagement' o'f theclutch members 228 and 231, I 'provide.a"`com pression ring 24| withinftliefhousi ng 228. "The circularflangemof the ring 24| bears againstthe plates 238. -Downwar'd movement of the ring`24| to effect theaforementioned compressionaction is effected by a plurality of pins 242which' extendithrough 'apertures' in the housing 228` and are carried byaring 243 operable throughan antifriction ball bearing 244'operable by1a trun-4 nion lcollar 245 which is' controlled by a shipper 246 keyedon a shaft 241 (Fig. 1) ,which shaftv 241 is'journaled at one endxln anupwardly extending plate 248 (Fig. 4) rigidly attached to a false botellltyis supported bythe hydraulicmotor|94 for adjustmentin'elevation onthepivot |88, .i f

j lttentionisno w directed tothe powerytransmissionmechanism connectedto the various devices to .operatethe same. Atthefoutset it maybejstated `thatonly asingle orncomrnon electric `r 1 49 and compvactlypositioned belowthe discharge conveyor 42V which extends upwardly andreartom plate 249 which, in turn, is rigidly attached to the main frameof thetruck 49.1VA L"Adjacent its other end the shaft 241 is'supportedin a pair of downwardly extending apertured plates 259,259 (Fig.- 2)`whicharebolted to the brackets 23|. Y `f Rocking movement of theshaft-241 to urge the collar 245 (Fig.l 4) downward, vwill cause anapplication of the friction clutchr229 to drive the gear 249. When theshaft 241 isl'released the clutch 229 will automaticallybecomedisengaged due to lack lof suicient clamping pressure .on the plates238. The operating means for/rotating the` shaft 241is shown inFigs. V4and 5.V

The gear` 249 which is controlled by the` clutch 229 is individual to agear trainfor driving the gathering conveyor chains. Thegear 249 mesheswith the idler; gear'25l mounted upon anantifriction supported shaft 252journaled in a cup Journaledv looselyon -the central portion of4therefore a detailed stantly in" mesh 2,377,505 253 `(Fig. 1)" andremovably attachedI tothe fronty b'ed 'plate 49.1 The gear 25Iin turnimeshes with the large gear 254 carried by a shaft `255 onantifrictionbearings in the previously described casting 13. It shouldbe particularly noted that since the vertical axis aboutwhich thegathering conveyor 4| swings is alongthe axisof the shaft 255,

power vcan be transmitted 'to said gathering conveyor through lthegeari254 while the gathering lthe ,the same" speedsbut in reversedirections, in fixed vrelation,

the flights jon one" chain tothe flights on the otherchain.'

Attention is'now directed `to the gear train which'is operative to drivethe truck `40 either forwardly or reversely` and at either a fasttramor` sumping speed. y transmission mechanism for the truck propellingmeans, includes the previously described gear 236 which is drivendirectly from the motor 224.` The gear 236 is beveled and meshesonopposite sideswithbevel gears 258,258 of reversing friction clutches259 and 260; respectively, as shown iIiFig.4.- i Y l Except inrespectshereinafter described in full detail, the clutches 259`and 260 aresimilar and description of clutch 259 will sufce for both. Theclutch 259comprises a housing 26| to which the bevel `gear 258 `is keyed. The

housing 26| is loosely journaled on a longitudinally extending hollowdrive shaft 262 to which member 263. Housing'26l and" clutchmember 263carry alternate stacked` friction clutch plates 264 which` may becompressed l is keyed a clutch into clutch engaging position by anoperating ring 265 adapted to be engaged by the opposed heads Aof anoperating key 266 (Fig. '1) which extends through an elongated slot261in the drive shaft 262 Vand through an elongated slot 268 ,(Fig@ 6)in an operating shaft 269 and is removably held in place bysaid endheads, one of which is formed by spaced bars 265 rigidlyjand removablyattached by rivets 266',

"By referring lto l i bevel gears258 are rotated by thebevel gear 236 inreverse directionslf clutch 259 is applied, theshaft 262 will be rotatedin` one direction by the motor 224, and when the clutch 260isapplied`,.the shaft262 will be rotated in the reverse direction.`

formed` rigid with the falso bottom plaie 249,

, Keyed to the shari zszis o. drivejpinionm as l shown in Fig; 4. Byreferring to Fig. it Will be s eenftl'iat` the pinion`212 drives avariable speed reduction mechanism comprising la gear 212 con- Wlththege`a1'1212, `The gear '213 m1ng or transportation speed 0r at alowfeeding` This gear train or` power Fig.` 4 it` willbe seen thatthe rmeansfof which the shaft l therefore no drive the gear 214 are journaledlooselyon A"the counter.'

shaftl215 mounted for'free rotation 'inijournals which are carried by`thefalsev bottom plate 249- The pinion 214 meshes' with a larger gear219A keyedtofa` pinion 219.` The gear 218 andplnion' 219 are mountedupon a, shaft 289 journaled inv bearings (28 I, 28 l. The pinion 219meshes Iwith al gear282 whichis loosely journaled ont the `count-`erL-shaft-215iw` i i C M l The-gears 213 and 282 are providedWithiclutch jaws `283` and l284 appropriate co-operating jaws. `Ashipper Av281 i`s` provided for `the clutch elements `285- and'286; Thisshipperis` adjustably mounted on a shiftalzlleA shaft 288-slidab1eat'onefend'in a` journal'3289 (Fig.` 2) carried `by the'siderplate 44.l"Il'ieshaft"288 at tsther-end is pivoted' tOah pellting lever 290'mounted on" the bracket `29| carried ofi-the plate 248, asshowninFigsniand. V 1

As clearly illu `ratedin- Fig, 5,`the,lever' 299 is provided with`locking mechanism 292cooperati'ng with a plate 294 having three holes'295' Fig. 4)

288 'may locked in any oneof three three positions; ,i Y 1 In theposition illustrated inI Fig." 4, both of the clutch elements `285 and28`6fo`f`Fig. 2 arefiny clutchmreleasing or disengaging position 'andwhatever will be transmitted to thecountershaft ,215. AlIf the shaft`2288 "is` moved to the left,` as viewedin Figi `4, `clutch ele-` ment285 will be moved to applied or engaged position whichwill effecta highspeed connection 215. When the clutch element 286 "is moved into appliedor `engaged position 288 to the right,as viewed in Fig. 4,(a low-speedconnection will,` beY effected between the, drive shaft"262 and thecountershaft 215. Fora given direction of rotatiori of the shoftztztnoshaft- 215 will be rotated in,the-oppositedirection mechanism shown inConsequently, when the `lillongated slots 269 are `so spaced withrespect` in` operation.1 This cangreadily befunderstod by referring toFig. 2 from which itwillbe seen that if the gear 212 rotates in acloclwise direction, the gear 213 will `be rotated"anti-clockwise.and-also the shaft 215, whether the clutch 283.` 285 is applied orwhetherthe clutch"2484,l286 is applied. Reversal of speed is effected byFig. lltand described more fullyhereinafter.

Keyed to the oouo'torsnafi 215 is derive. sofoot;

etv 293 (Fig. 2)` which drives the sprocket `5,9 through `a drive chain2931. `The ydrive sprocket 59 is connected `to the axle 51 and thewheels 56; of the truck 48. The axle 51inturn drvesthe. front axlethrough the drive chain 65 Vfto drive the front wheelsil of the truck4U.` Itwill thus be manifest that the loading machinel maybe driventhrough `the traction wheels from the motor 224 "either forwardly lorreversely` either at a high transportation speed orlowffeeding speedwith out requiring, reversal of direction Iof rotation of the motor 224.In other words, the truck propeiling mechanism `may be operated at ahigh transportation speed by `throwingin the clutch 283, 285 and ata lowfeeding speed by throwing injthegoluton 284, zas. mechanism may bereversed bymeans of thereversing' Vgearing, shown in Fig. 4, withoutreversing' theidirection of rotation "ofthe motor 224.`

As "clearly disclosed in'Fig` 2, I provide a power respectively whichcooperate with clutch elements 285, `'28'6respectivelyhaving andthecountershaft by moving the shaft i Vrotation ofrjtlie shaft 2115 geither at high transportation speed orflow feeding means of thereversing,"

The truck propelling Y ally mounted on the rear bed plate 50 by a shaftvjournaledin abearing 326v mounted on anarm pivoted to a bracket 321carried on the top ofan oil reservoir 328 of the hydraulic controlsystem ofthe loading machine. The drum 325 is adapted to carry` aflexible electrical cable which connects the source of electrical powersupplyto the electric motor 224. Rigidlyattachedftc the cable drum 325is a drive sheave 330 driven by chain 3 3l from a sheave 332. The ratioof the sheaves 330 and 3 32 ,is so selected that the. speed of rotationof the drum 325 will'be sufficient to pick up the` iiexible electricalcable toV prevent,y an accumulation of slack therein even when substan-ytally all of the cable has been paid out, with the ,effective diameterof the cable drum 325 at ay minimum., The drum 325 must rotate atdifferent speeds yrelatively to the speed of travel of the loadingmachine during the hauling in of the cable due to variation in theeffective rdiameter of the drum 325,. To provide for this the sheaves330 and 332 have smooth surfaces so that the chain 33| anslip withrespect thereto. If the drum 325 tends to rotate at a speed too fast forthat required to take up the slack in the electric cable, there will beslippage between thechain 33| and oneor both of the sheaves 330 and 332.

Furthermore, the sheave. 332 is a one-way power driven sheave so thatwhen the loading' machine is operating to pay out the electric cable,the tension on the latter is relied on to rotate thevdrum 325, theelectric cable being pulled in, ofcourse, under power. Tov provide thisoneway drive, the sheave 332 is journaled loosely on a cup sleeve keyedto the shaft 2 15. Pawl and ratchet mechanism between the cup sleeve andthe sheave 332 permits rotation ofthe sheave 332 from the shaft 215 onlywhen the electric cable is to be pulled in. It will therefore be seenthat when the loading machine moves for-` ward, tension on the electriccable will cause the cable drum 325 to rotate freelysince the sheave 332maybe rotated vfreely on the shaft by reason ofthe slipping of the pawlyand ratchet mechanism.

Secured -te the sheave 332 to rotate therewith is a haulage or towingcable drum 336 (Fig. 2). A flexible steel' cableA is adapted to beassociated with' the'cable drum 336, the free end of which may beconnected to an anchorage in the mine -extraneous to the loading machinein such position as to cause power rotation of the cable drum 336 to aidthe loading machine inrcli'mbing a hill. In general, it is not necessarytov use this flexible steel cable but sometimes severe conditions areencountered, making its use desirable. To effect a driving connectionbetween the drum 336 and the counters'haft 215, the former is providedwith ;aws adapted to co-operate with vjaws of a sliding clutch memberwhich is feathered to the end of the shaft 215 and operated by `ashipper.

is directed to the front end of the loader it will,

in addition,v be reeved about the pulley 3451to' extend forwardly alongthe side of the truck 4|).`

It should also be `noted that the rear crosspiece 46 of the main frameof the truck 40 carries' a guide member having top,` bottom and sideanti-friction rolls. The electric cable may besupported on the guidemember 35| particularly.A

when it is being paid outby forward movement of the loading machine. ,l

As was previously pointed out, the swinging'of;

`the rear of the motor casing, as shown in Fig.` 2,

and drives a hydraulic pump 351, preferably an oil pump, through a chainand sprocket drive mechanism 358. The pump 351`Vis preferably arelatively high pressure pump capable of producing pressure up `to onethousandY poundsl per square inch andA is mounted upon'the oilreservoiry 328. It will thus be seen that the pump 351` is continuouslydriven whenever the motors2r24vis operated. 3, y.

It may alsobe mentioned thatl the pump 351l is of such a constructionthat regardless of its, direction of rotation it will always supplyvpres-l. sure at the same port. tain full control of the machine in theevent that the motor 224 is driven in reverse direction.l

may be operated to reverse the direction of yro t`a,`

' tion of the shaft 252 to whichis keyed the pinion As shown in Fig; 2,a' guide pulley 342 is carried by a bracket 343 supported by the bedplate 50 directly tothe rear of the drum Y336, to act as a guide for theaforementioned steel cable.`

.As shown at the lower left-hand cornenof Fig. 2, a pair of guidepulleys 344 and 345 are provided adjacent the rear end of 'thel frame40,

t'o guide the flexible steel cable from the lrearl of the main frame of`the truck 40 to extend either forwardly or rearwardly.y Whenthewsteel'cable extends rearwardly it will pass directly from the pulley342 to the pulley 344,4 and when thecable 212` (Fig. 4). vlt has beenfound in practice that clutches tend to become Aworn and I have therefore provided improved means t0 compensate for this wear on the clutches259 and 26'0. Remov ably attached to the operating shaft 269 for theclutches 259 and 260 is a removable extension shaft 43| whichisconnected by ymeans of the pin 432 to a rod 433 both endso'f which are'screw-threaded as shown in Figs.' 4 and l2..

To the false` bottom plate 2 49f is welded the` upright cylindricalsocket 434 forreceiving the lower end of the vertical shaft bearing435(Fig. 13) which may be secured to the socketA byV lmeans of the setscrew 436. To thev upper portion off reduced diameterof the shaft`bearing435r is journaledby means ofthe bushing 4,31,v the` arms 438,43B and the spacing block 439.

Keys 44D, 440 are inserted ,between the sparc-f.

ing block 433 and the arms 438, 438l as shown in Fig. 13. By means ofthe bolts 44|, 44|' the` arms 43B. 438 are clamped to the spacing blockto form a single unit. A cotter pin 442 may. be relied on to retain thisunit journaled on the stationary or xed shaft bearing 435.` y

The spacing block 439, has extending laterally therefrom an arm 439'.`The aforesaid unit thus.

becomes a bell-crank pivoted for rocking movements on the shaft bearing435,.

The outer end of the arm 43,9 an opening 543 in the reciprocating plate444, the upper .and lower edges of which'have `tongue and grooveconnections at 444, 445 ,with the uppery and lowerv guide bars y443and',44`|, as `shownin Fig. 10. The upper guidebar446'mayb'e secured tothe spacing plate 61 by means vof the bolts This is useful to main-l`extends through f `the front quadrant plate `the outer end of which `and`411 `is t a 4 spacing is horizontal at` the finger 50|)` plate 461 asindicated at 468 in Figs. 81and 10. The spacing plate 461fmayibe securedto the plate 410 by means oftbolts 41|, 41|,` and `the back plate; 410may be'isecured `to the bottom plate 50,by meansof welding as; indicatedat 412 inF'ig/l;V

Thelowerend ofthe lever 443 is `Welded. to 413 which is journaled 414 onthe bearing415, is provided with a discshaped `head 416 of enlargeddiameter. Also by `means `of `the bushing `journaled on the bearing 415isa rear quadrant plate 411. Intermediate the quadrant `plates 413`block 418pwhich `is also journaledby meansI of` vtherbushing 414 on the`bearing 415. The front and rear quadrant plates ,413 and `411 arerespectively pinnedV at. 419 and 480 to thespacing block 418, as showninFig..l4. Lubricating means may be provided at 48|. The rear end of thebearing 415 `is provided with an annular shoulder`482 which nts againstthe front side of thespacing plate 461 The rear end of the bearing 4.15is screw-threaded at- 483.` A nut 484V is screw-threaded `on the rearend `483 to force a-Washer 485 back plate 410 to very securely holdwthebearing 415 rigidly connected to the plates 4'61 and 410, therebyholding the upper and lower guide bars 446and 441 rigidly connected tothe bottom plate 50 shown in Fig..4.

. .By means of l cotter are connected `between pins `486, shafts488, 489the quadrant plates `413 and 411, `as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.r Theseshaftsserveas `journal bearings `for `the rollers 490, 49| which are .inposition to engagethe cam surfaces 492, 493 `of the opening inthereciproeating plate 444. i' q e Theopening 494 in the reciprocatingplate 444 the upper portion,` as indicated at 495.` The lower p ortionof this opening is` also horizontaLas indicated `at 496 in Fig.` 8.`Either the upper horizontal portion'` 495 or'the lowerI `horizont-,alportion 496 will serve to limit the `443 in either e direction `whenengage the same. However,

throw of the lever the rollers 490, 49|

it is preferred to provide centering mechanismv at 4911which will alsoserve to limit the throw of Athe lever 443,l and when` the latter isreleased such centering mechanism will automatically re-V turn the lever443 to its4 vertical position.

The centering mechanism comprises -`a bracket plate 498 bolted at`499,499 to the reciprocating plate 444. The plate 498 is provided `with`a downwardly extending linger 500 through which ex tends a bolt 50|. isriveted at 503A tothe guide bar.441.\; A spring 504intervenes thenger500 andthe head of the bolt 50|, and a spring 505 is locatedbetween thefingerv 500 and the bracket plate 502. `By means oi-a nut 506cm y thethreaded end of vthe bolt 50|,

with `the vertical `position ofthe lever 443 and so that when thelever443,is in its vertical or neutral `position ,the `springs will e becounterbalanced. It can-readily be seen that `wlfien the lever ,143 ismoved in an anticlockwise direction, asshown in Fig.. 8, thesprng 504`willtbe-,com-v Dressed, and` when-the lever` `4,43 is released thisspringwill return the lever vto neutral` position. When the lever 443 is`moved `in a clockwise directionthe spring 505 will be compressedyandwhen the lever is released, e turn thelev'er to its neutral or4 verticalposition. `The `spacing. plate 461` ist provided with. an opening 501 toprovide ample `agansttthe rear `side of the e An angular bracketplate502 .i

this `spring will 're,

Space @the inner v 'Bia-77,505

' but the spacing between the ball `may be adjusted in .accordance`portions 525'` uand 526 i friction clutch 259 and ing shown inFigs. 1and 4 the lower portion of the in Fig. 8; 4to providefadditional bearingfor `the `screwthreaded end 483 of the journal bearing as an abutmentfor fthe annular shoulder482 Shownin Fig.` 14. i l

Between v,thecarms .438, and `439` of the bell crankV leverunitshown; inFig. 11 islocated a ball bearing abutment device 509,the` upper end 5|0of `whichtis journaled vinthe arm 433,` the lowerendillmbeingvjournaled.in the arm 4385, 'as shown in Fig. 412.

The tau; bearing abutment sus is sudati@ along `therodr 433,1with allparts thereof remainingn the co-relation shown in Fig. 12:`

Y Located within the cylindrcalbody portion 5|2 of the ball bearingunit-509.yis a retaining ring 5|3 whichv has kagperipheral ilangeadapted` to engage a complementaryilange on the body portion 15|2,.asshown `in Fig. l2. Fitted within the bodywportion` 512 isythe outercylindrical ball bearingirace 5|4. VA cylindrical inner race 5|5 isslidable on, the rodi-433. i Between the two races are located the balls|i|6.\ The retaining ring 5|1 isfslidableon therod 433 and has aperipheral ange.. which isd adapted .to `engage a complementary `flange`on `the ring 5|8. By means of rivets 5|9 520,1theringl5l8'is securedtothe body portion 5|?` of the `b all-` bearing unit 1509.. Thelattertherefore has its parts in interlocking relationandis adapted toslide as a unit along the rod433 to engageeither. the spring 52| or 522.

As shown` Fig. p12,r abutment washers 523 and 524 are adjustable alongthe screw-,threaded of the rod 433` by .means of the nuts 521 and 528.Additional nuts: `529 and 530 are. provided as lock nuts to firmly hold`the ball bearing unit 509 the spring 52|` is engaged 17o-move``the-rod43l `to theleft.;` as viewed in Fig. 4, the operating key-266will be effective tomove theoperating ring` 265 tothe left to apply thetherebyA transmit rotary movement fromthemotor 224fthrough the geartotheshaft 262 in a certain direction... lWhen the ball bearing .unit 509ismoved toward theright to move the rod 43| towardY the rightas viewedinl Fig. 4, Athe clutch` `260` willbe vapplied toeffect rotation ofthemshaft 262 Jin theloppositedirection. l l i, It is desirable that.bymeans of the handle 53| the leverw443 may always bemoved inonedirection crthe other through aecertain definite angle, bearing unit 589and. the spring` 52 |1 and the spacingl between the ball bearing unit"iiltyandV the spring 522 are variable and adjustable. ,In other words,a certain amountof` adjustablelost motion is providedin the actuationgofthe rod 43| although the .lever 443 isV always moved` through `the sameangle-eitherdn oneid-irection or the other. The lost motion between theball bearing unit and the rod 43|4 is Vinitiallyat amaximum eitherfor Ythe applicationoftheclutch 259 or the application of the clutch 260. Thelost `motion for each of `these-clutches 259 and 260 `may be reduced as:5 :ends of the shafts 488-4 and 489.` Intermediate the ends of=theopening 501 plate 46-1projects upwardly, as indicated at508 positionof the ball bearing unit 509, and as the clutch 260 becomes worn thespring 52| is adjusted to a position closer to the ball bearing unit509. In other words, as the clutches 259 and 260 ybecome worn, the lost`'motion connections rmay be adjusted accordingly.

1 Movement of the lever 443 in either direction is limited by the roller490 or the roller 49| engaging the horizontal straight surface 495 Aatthe bottom of the opening 494 inthe reciprocating plate 444. It shouldbe noted, however, that at the ends of the horizontal surface 496 theedges curve upwardly to vertical portions 532 and 533. Consequentlylwhen the rollers 490 and 49| are moved downwardly along the verticalsurfaces 532v and 533, the centers of rotation ofthe rollers will bebelow the center vof rockingv movement of the lever 443. InV theapplication of either of the friction clutches 259, 260, either one orthe other of the springs 52|, 522 will be under compression and therewill be a strong back pressure on the bell crank arm 439' to exert astrong force on ing to move the latter backto neutral position, but whenthe roller 490 or the roller 49| ismoved below dead center with respect`to the rocking axis of the lever 443, the latter will be held in eitherof its lower positions and so locked there as to enable the operator torelease the lever 443 with the assurance that the frictionclutch 259 or260 will be held applied. When theA clutch 259 or 260 is to be released,all that the operator needs to do is to release the roller 490 or theroller 49| when it is below dead center position, whereupon 'thecentering mechanism 491 will automatically move the lever 443 to itsneutral position and ho'ld itthere. i

It should be particularlynoted that the lever 443 need be moved onlyabout vthirty-five kdegrecs in either direction to move one of therollers 490 or 49| to its locking dead center position. This isdecidedly advantageous in a loading machine that is used in coal mineswhere'the-available space is very limited and the operator desires toVstand between a coal rib and that side of the machine where the lever443 is located. By limiting the throw of the lever 443 to approximatelythirty-five degrees in either direction, the handle 53| may be pulled orpushed 4approximately horizontally with the assurance that the operatorcan easily move the lever to its locking position or slightly beyond thedead center locking or holding position. As above explained, the throwof the actuating lever 443 in one direction or the other fromits neutralposition shown in Fig. 8 will always remain substantially the same, butthe extent of throw of the actuating rod 43| must be varied tocompensate for the wear in the clutches 259 and 260.`

It should also be noted that when the lever 443 is in its upright orneutral position, as shown in Fig. 8, both of the clutches v259 and 260will be released or disengaged and consequently the drive shaft 262 willremain stationary. The operating lever 443 may be biased to this uprightor neutral position by means of the centering mechanism 491. n l y yAttention is now directed particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 and to the meansforrotating the shaft 241 to effect application of the friction clutch229 to effect a driving of the gathering conveyor chains of thegathering conveyor 4|. This means comprises a lever 448 keyed to theshaft 241l to cause rotation thereof.

Through the lever 448 extends a threaded rod 449 provided with adjustthereciprocating plate 444 te'ndable nuts 450 and a compression.` spring45|* held in place by an adjustable nut 452'. The rod 449 is pivoted toan eccentric crank pin,453 the axis of whichis spaced from the axis ofthe shaft 454 to which it is rigidly connected.- The shaft 454 isjournaled in a bearing box 455 carriedby the plate 248. An operatinghandle 456 is keyed to thershaft 454.

In the positions of the parts illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the clutch229 will be released. By the operator pulling the handle 456 toward him,shaft 454 will be rotated, and threaded rod 449 will be lifted by thecrank action'of the eccentric crank pin 453. Through the compression ofspring 45| the lever 448 will rotate 4the shaft 241, thereby moving thecollar 245 (Fig. 4) downwardly to y*compress the friction plates 238through the ring 243 and the pins 242. The handle 456 is held in clutchapplied position by virtue of the factthat `it strikes'a stop (notshown) carried by thema'in frame of the truck 40, slightly after thelcrank pin 453 passes over its dead center position. It is thereforeevident that the clutch 229 will remain in clutch applied position whenvoperating nthis position, until it is disengaged byy opera- Y tion ofthe handle 456.

Suitable means (451, 464, provided on the loadingfmachine for startingand stopping the electric motor 224 and for reversing the same. In theoperation of the loading machine embodying my improvements, it may be'crammed or propelled along the mine track to the place where theloading loperation is to be performed'. During such ltransportation the`drive wheels of the vtruck will be driven at their fast speed and theelectric cable will be paid out freely from the cable drum 325. Thegathering conveyor will have its front end supported above the trackrails. The gathering a'ncirdischarge,y con'- veyors may be controlledyby the operator `who rides on a small platform on the'truck v40adjacent the various levers connected to valveshjfor controlling thehydraulic motors, particularly to swing the gathering and dischargeconveyors as required by the travel of the loading machine along a`curved track in amine. i

Should a very steep incline be encountered it may be necessary to employa exible steel cable or rope associated withl the drum 336 and reve itabout' the two pulleys 344, 345 (FigjrZ) with the free end connected toan anchorage in the mine extraneous to the loading machine. Thisarrangementis particularly desirable when the traction'feed tends tocause the truck wheels to slip on the mine track.A

When the loading machine has reached the place where the coal is to beloaded, which coal has been previously .dislodged by cutting and 286(Fig. 2) will be thrown in while at the same time the clutch 265 will bereleased',-thereby op` erating the propelling mechanism at a slow orsumping speed. The operator will then adjust the gathering conveyor 4|and the discharge con-7 veyor 42, the former by lowering it incontacting relation with the mine bottom in advance of the mine track,and the latter by swinging it for dis-V charge linto mine cars either onthe same mine track or a parallel track. f

With the conveyor mechanisms of the discharge and gathering conveyorsset into operation, and with the front end of the gathering unit restingon the mine oor in advance of the mine track, the entire machine may befed forwardly pro- 466, Fig. l) may be up-in accordance wi `sitedirections. of the gear254clockwise and the movement of vidingr a`frenan attackl ofthe `gathering con- `'vey'o'rfli on the coal fatthebottom ofthesemicompact mass of dislodged coal to be loaded. Y Thegathering flights operate not onlyto gatherf the coal rfrom theminebottom but also to tear apart *and lo'osen up the semi-compact masswhich then moves 'forwardinto the-mine chamber, necessi-`"tatingfrequent'retractions of thewhol'e machine "along themine track.With the electricmotor 224 continuously operating in the same direction,

`the gathering conveyor may bereciprocated 'to umore efdciently effectloading of the coal, byoperating the reversing clutches 259 and 260 `of"Figi In other wordsywith` the electric motor 224continuouslyoperatingin the samedirection, vtheoperator may move thelever 443 'in eithei` direction from neutral position to efectoperationofthe reversing clutches 259 and 260 tofeflect reciprocations ofthegathering" conveyor `during loading operations. During suchreciprocations i of'thelgatheringconveyorthe clutch 286 (Fig. 2i)

maybeieft in appiied'rposition so as .to effect the slow mover'nentof`the `truck"proi'oelling mechaing upon the extent of reciprocations ofthemining `machine along a mine track, the electric cable onythe drum325 may be paid out orV wound ing machine. i i

A* general reviewoff'theconstruction and operationVoffthe loadingmachine shown in the accompanying l drawings" vwill demonstrate moretain theA mostflefficient operation in loading' coal draulic motorI02"(Fig. 3) `thefrontend ofthe gathering conveyor may be adjusted in'elevation.

`The whole loadingmachine may be transported along the mine track undercontrol of theoperator'who maystart or stop or reverse-the elec- 'tricmotor 224 by `means i of suitable controlling 'mechanism (451,146`4,`3466, Fig'l) connected thereto. Inasmuch f as the power transmission`mechanism between the electric motor 224 and the-gatheringand'discharge conveyors is iniixed relationito'the latter, itisnecessaryfor theop- `erator to start the motor` 224 in `the` proper di-`rection.L In order` to" secure upward movement of :the adjacentflights'along the central trough ,"ofjthe gathering conveyor unit, thesprockets at the', upper ends ofthe shafts must rotate in oppo- Thisnecessitates the movement thegear125l anti-clockwise." Therefore thegear 241)(1ig.` 1) mustmoveclockwise as viewed in plan; and to securesuch rotation the armature shaft 225 `mustrotate;'clockwise when viewedfrom the right-hand end'thereof in Figi 1,

Since@ the gears 221, 240 and 236 rotate to# gether with the shaft 230`whenfthe clutch 229`is applied. the gear 236 will `be rotated clockwiseas viewed iniplan in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the sprocket 291 is:located on the left-hand side of the loadingmachine looking forward, andconsequentlyA when the gear 236 rotates clockwise; as viewed in plan,the :gear y258wi1l eiect clockwise rotationA of :the shaft 262, asviewed in Fig.1.

'I 'hisisthe proper rotation `forcausing the sprocket chain `302 torotate the sprocket |89 in. a clockwise directioniv asviewediinFig. 1,to drive the conveyor chain |6501? the `discharge.conveyor 42 th themovements of tlieloadin the proper direction for discharging the coa'linto"mine cars.

During normal operation `of the gathering conveyor and dischargeconveyor the operator has no occasion for reversinggthe motor 224, butif the gathering nights become stalledlin the semi-compact mass of coaladjacent the coal wein, it'sometimes` is desirable to` reverse the elecin order to assist in releasing the coal nights from During loadingoperations, the electric motor'224 should always be operated-in suchdirection as to effect proper direction of the coal mass.

travel of the gathering conveyor and the discharge conveyor, thereversing clutches 259 and 260 of Fig. 4` being then relied `upon toeffect reversal of travel ofY the whole loading machine along the minetrack. i

The truck propelling mechanism comprises power transmissionmechanismbetween the electric motor 224 andall of the wheels 01j thetruck. This power transmission mechanism is primarily under the controlofthe main friction clutch 229 shown in Figs.` 1 and 4. The operator mayapply or release the clutch v229 by means of the lever 456 as shown inFig.` 5;^ The truck i propelling power transmission mechanism alsoincludes the reversing clutches 259 and 260 shown inFig.`4, either ofwhich may be applied by the operator actuatingithe lever 443 in`onedirection or the other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and consequentlythe floading machine during operationimay be moved along the mine trackin either direction `without `reversing the electric motor `224 but evenif the electric motor 224 is reversed for the purpose above explained,the loadingm'achinefmay 'be moved in either direction along theminetrack at any time by means of the reversing" clutches ,i

259 and 260 of Fig.` 4.

When the shaft 262 of Fig. 4 is rotated in one direction or the other,the pinion 212 thereon sprocket 293 on the shaft 215` connects thelatter Withtheaxle 51, as shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that theelectric motor 224` may be continuously operatedin the same direction,while by means of the clutches 259 and 260 `of,Fig. 4

the `gathering mechanism maybe moved forwardly or rearwardly under thecontrol of 'the op-` eratolpandV such forward or rearward movement maybe at relatively fast speed or relativelyslow speed under thecontrol'ofthe clutches 2B5and 236 of Fig. 2; A slow, powerful sumpingmovement into the semi-compact mass of shot down coal may thus beeffected, andwhenever desired la slcw powerful withdrawal movement ofthe gathering mechanism may beeiTectedL The starting and vstopping ofthe pair of end` less chains SI ofthe gatheringconveycr are controlledby the mainclutch 229 shown `inliigsl and 4. During normal operation ofthe" gatherling lconveyor the ightsthereofvmove `in pairs toward thedischarge conveyor `unit 42l and therefore the motor 224 should becontinuouslyloper- 'atedfin the same direction.l If there isy anoverloadgontl'ie'y gathering conveyor chains .due to contact between theflights thereof and the solid or irremovable coal caught between theconveyor and roofof the mine chamber, the friction clutch I 4trolled bythemain motor 224 to secure proper direction of rotation of the shaft|98 to move the discharge conveyor along the conveyor trough 11| toconvey material rearwardly into the `mine car. It should be particularlynoted by reference to Fig. 4 that notwithstanding the association ofthelclutch 259 with the bevel gear V253 and the shaft 252, the sprocket291 mayalways be rotated in th'e same direction when the motor 224 isrotated -in a'lgiven'direction. v

The cable reel 325 may be operated by power to wind up the electriccable thereon, this cable containing the insulated Wires connecting themotor 224 to the distant source of electric power supply. 'The pawl andratchet mechanism above referred to, permits the paying out of ytheelectric cable as the -loading machine movesforward along the minetrack.

f When the shaft 215 (Fig. 2) is rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed from the Vrighthand side of the machine the truck wheels are alsobeing rotated to obtain, if possible, traction feed. The rope drum 33Band the truck propelling mechanism, therefore co-operate to secure verypowerfulforwardfeed of the machine particularly when the nose of thegathering conveyor `unit is to be forced into a semi-compact mass of yshot down coal to be loaded.

When the shaft 215 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction as viewedfromk the right-hand side of the machine, the truck wheels will berotated to retract the machine along the mine track, the steel cable onythe rope drum 336 will be paid out and the pawl and ratchet mechanismwill drive the rope drum 325 to wind up the electric cable thereon.

When the shot down coal at the coalface is vto `be loaded considerablepower may be necessary to ram the nose of the gathering conveyor alongthe mine bottom into the tight coal, Iand for this purpose the tractionof the wheels I', 56 may be insufficient and under such conditions theuse of the rope drum 336 and a wire cable anchored extraneous-ly tothemachine may be advisable. However, it should be understood that in orderto protect the truck propelling mechanism the clutches 259 and 26!) mayeach be set `to slip when the load on the clutch reaches a predeterminedlimit.

The clutches are individually operable and the actuating mechanism foreach may be individually adjusted. Each clutch is yieldingly applied andeach maybe set to slip upon reaching a predetermined load. Therefore, byreason of the springs 52| and 522 the regulation of slippingA at certainloads may be sufficiently sensitive to more eflicientlyfprotect thepropelling mechanism.

It will thus be seen that the adjustment of the lost motion connectionsbetween the ball bearing unit 509 and the springs 52|, 522 is not onlyfor Y stances the factor of reason of the springs usmall sogas tomaintain a high factor of f Having thus described asf/:7,505

the. purpose of taking up wear in the. friction .clutches from time totime but also for the purpose of regulating the point of slippage ofeach clutch in` accordance -with the load on the clutch. Under normalconditions slippage of the clutches may .occur when the loads thereonare relatively safety. Whentheshot Adown coal remains standingin asemi-compact mass, the slippage may be setfor a relatively large load,particularly when the gathering mechanism is moved forward into suchsemi-compact mass, .although under such circumsafety may be lowered.iABy 52|, 522 the adjustments of thepoints of slippage may be varied overa wide range. Of course, when either clutch slips the operation of thepropelling mechanism is discontinued and. movement of the loadingmachine along the mine track stops.

Obviously thoseskilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from'the spirit andscope of the invention as vdefined by the claims hereto appended, and Itherefore wish-not to be restricted to the precise construction'hereindisclosed. a 1 and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is: y 1. In a machine ofthe classdescribed, the combination with a driven shaft, of reversingfriction clutches associated therewith, mechanism comprisingI a rodmovable axially of said shaft for applying said friction clutches, anoperating lever, mechanism comprising dead-center means for limitingeach movement of said lever to its opposite-positions from neutral tosubstantially -less than 90 and locking said operating leverat itslimiting positions, and connections comprising adjustableabutment'mechanism on said rod Vfor cam device to reciprocaterectilinearly, means on said lever in position to engage said cam deviceto move the same rectilinearly when saidlever is moved onits pivot,mechanism limiting the movement of said engaging means to a, positionjust beyond dead centerv relative to the pivot of the lever to effectlocking of the latter just beyond such dead center position, and clutchactuating mechanism between said cam device and said clutch. l f

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a clutch,of a pivoted operating lever, a movable cam plate, mechanism for guidingsaid plate for movement along straight lines, means on said lever forengaging said cam plate to move the same rectilinearly in oppositedirections, mechanism limiting the movementv of said engaging means toopposite positions beyond dead centers relative to the pivot of thelever to effect locking of the latter adjacent such dead centerpositions, and clutch actuating mechanism between said cam plate andsaid clutch. i

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a clutch,of a pivoted operating ylever, a cam plate, mechanism for guiding saidcam plate for rectilinear movements in oppositedirections, means on saidleverfor engaging said cam plate, actuating connections between said camplate and said clutch, means for' effecting locking means. A

lever, a cam plate having an opening 2,377,505 e locking of the lever inclutch applied position, and

resilient means for automatically returnmg said levelv to initialposition when released from said 5.. In a machine` of the classdescribed, the combination with a drivingshaft, of a driven shaft,

reversing mechanism comprising spaced i friction device and said drivenshaft, said lconnections in-A cludinga rod movable axially of saiddriven shaft in` opposite directions to effect application of either ofsaid friction clutches and said connections also including adjustableabutmentmechanismon said rod for varying the extent `of movement ofsaidaxial actuating device to compensate for wear in the clutches. v

, 6. Ina machine bination with reversing clutches, of a cam plate havinga relatively large opening therein affording l spaced'opposite camsurfaces, a pivoted actuating lever, spaced-apart actuating devicescarried by said lever for respectively engaging said opposing j camsurfaces and `servingto move said camplate in opposite directions whensaid lever is moved in `opposite directions,- and connectionsbetweensaid cam plate and said clutches forapplying the latter when said leveris actuated.` f l e 7. In a machine of the class described,the com.-bination with spaced clutches, of

therein relatively wideat one portion and narrower at an-` otherportionto `afford opposing cam surfaces, spacedfapart cam engaging devices onsaid lever at the `relative wide portion of said opening when the levervis in neutral position, mechanism for` guiding the cam plate inopposite directions when shifted by movement of said cam engagingdevices in opposite directions to the narrower posi-` e tion of saidopening, and connections between said plate and said clutches to `eiectoperation. ofthe latter when said plate is shifted.

bination with spaced 4friction clutches, of `an actuating rod movableaxially of said friction clutches to apply the same,` spaced-abutmentnuts threaded on said rod, buier springs associated withl said abutmentnuts, a` bell-crank one arm of which is in position to engage either ofsaid buffer springs tomove said rod axially,` a cam plate having anopening to receive theother arm of said bellcrank, an actuating lever,rollers carried by said lever in position. to engage Opposing cam facesin said plate, and means for limiting the throw of said actuating leverin opposite directions to 106king positions just beyond dead centers sothat when said actuating lever is released the applied clutch will notbe released. l c l 9. In a machine of theclass describedthe comofthedass described, the eonian actuating l 8. In a machineof the classdescribed, the com-j ing means to a position just beyond deadcenterrelative to `the pivot of the lever to effect locking ofthe latter just`beyond such dead center` posif tion, and lclutch actuating .mechanismbetweenv said cam ,device and said clutch. e

- 10. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination with `a;friction, clutch, of i means comprisingan axially vmovable rod forapplying said clutch, an abutment `mounted on said rod for adjustmenttherealong, and mechanism compris` ing an actuating device spaced fromsaid abutment but movable along said rod into` engagement with saidabutment to effect axial movement of saidrod `and the application ofsaid clutch, the construction and arrangement being `such that suchactuating deviceyhas a predetermined lost motion from neutral beforeengaging said abute `ment, to apply said clutch. t

11.111` a machine of the class" described, `the combination with africtionclutch,` of mechanism comprising a. pivoted lever for applyingsaid clutch, an actuating plate, mechanism forguiding said plate forreciprocating `movements ina plane extending transversely of the planeinwhich said lever is movable, an actuating lever, mechanism supportingsaidactuating lever for pivotal move ment in aplane parallel to saidplats and transf versely ofithe plane of said rst-named lever, and

adjustable clutch pressure `mechanismrfor transmitting movementfrom saidfirst-named lever to applysaid clutcnvariably. l l

12. Inga machine of-the class described,` `the I combination with adrive shaft, of a driven shaft, reversing mechanism` between saidshaftscomprising two friction clutches, meanscomprising anaxially`movable rod for applying said clutches, l

spaced-,apartabutments `mounted,V o-n said rod each for adjustmenttherealong, and mechanism" 4 comprising an actuatingdevice betweensaidabutl ments andv movable valong said rod into engagement with either ofsaid abutments to apply one of saidclutches, the construction andarranger ment being such that such actuating device when in neutralposition `is spaced from both `of said abutment devices and haspredetermined lcst1n0` tions from neutral before engaging `saidabutments to apply said clutches. i

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with africtionclutch, of means comprlsinga rod movable axially to apply .the

l clutch, an abutment mounted on said rod, an acbination with a drivingshaft, of a driven shaft,

a clutch adapted to connect said shafts, a pivoted` operating lever, amovable cam device, `mechanism` guiding said cam device for movementrectilinearly, means on saidleverin positionto engagesaid cam device`tomove the` same rectilin-` early when said lever is moved on itspivot, mechanism limitingthe.- movement of saidengagtuating unit mountedAonsaidrod to slide along the same toward and from saidabutment, andmeans for sliding said ,actuatingunit along said rod to engage saidabutment to elect axial movement of said rod and the `application ofsaid clutch. i i

`14. In `a machine of the class described, the combination with aldriving shaft, of a driven shaft, -means comprising two frictionclutches for connecting said shafts forl operation of the drivenshaft inreverse directions, an operating lever, an

actuating rod connected to said friction clutches,-

an .actuating abutment connected to said lever and .slidable along saidrod, resilient abutments on saidtrod on opposite sides of'said actuatingabutment, and means for operating said lever to slide said 4actuatingabutment along said rod against either of said resilient abutments andthereby secure, axial movement of said rod and,

the, applicationof one ofsaid clutches.

15. InV a machine of the class described, the

combinationwith a friction clutch, of a cam defvice comprising a camplate having an actuating.

cam surfacefmerging into a locking` cam surface,

, tion and arrangement being such that when the locking cam surface isengaged as aforesaid the said engaging means is at or beyond dead centerrelative to the pivot of said actuating lever.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frictionclutch, of anoperating lever, a cam device comprising an lactuating camface merging into a locking cam face, mechanism for guiding theactuating movement of said cam device, operating connections betweensaid cam device and said mechanism on said operating lever in positionto engage said cam faces one after the other when the lever is movedthrough an angle of about thirty degrees, and means for pivotallymounting said operating lever in position to enable said locking surfaceto establish a dead center holding position for said lever.

1'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a clutch,of a cam plate having an .actuating cam surface and a locking camsurface, an actuating lever, mechanism for supporting said cam plate foractuating movement, operating connections between said cam plate andsaid clutch, means on said lever for engaging said cam surfaces oneafter the other to effect application of the clutch and the lockingthereof in applied position, mechanism pivotally mounting said lever inposition to effect dead -center locking of said lever when said engagingmeans is associated with said locking cam surface, and means at one endof said locking cam surface for limiting the throw of said lever toapproximately thirty ldegrees from neutral position, the constructionand arrangement being such that notwithstanding such limited throw ofsaid lever the said engaging means is associated with said locking camsurface to provide a dead center connection relative to the pivot ofsaid lever to hold the latter in its clutch applying position afterbeing manually released.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with clutchmechanism, of an actuating lever, a cam plate having an actuating camsurface merging into a locking `cam surface, a cam engaging device onsaid lever, mechanism pivotally mounting said lever'in position toenable said cam engaging device to co-act with said locking cam surfaceto hold such device'at dead center relative to the pivot of said lever,mechanism for guiding said cam plate in opposite directions inaccordance with the position of said cam engaging device, and operatingconnections between said plate and said clutch mechanism.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frictionclutch, of mechanism comprising a rod connected to said clutch to applyrcombination with spaced friction clutches, of an actuating rod movableaxially of said friction clutches to apply the same, spaced abutments onsaid rod each adjustable along said rod'to various positions thereon, anactuating device between said abutments and spaced from both of them, anoperating lever, mechanism limiting the throw ois'aid lever through apredetermined angle, and mechanism between said lever and said actuatingdevice to slide the latter along said rod into engagement-with saidabutments, the construction and arrangement being such that when saidAlever is moved through a predetermined angle one vof said abutmentswill be moved to vsuch extent as will take up wear in the clutchandapply the latter with a force predetermined by the adjustj ment ofthe corresponding abutment alongsaid lli'.

l cation of said clutch l i 24. In a machine of the class described, the

rod. v f

21.4In a machine of the class described, the combination with avfriction clutch, of means comprising a rotary rod movableaxially toapply the clutch, an abutment mounted on said rod and adapted to rotatetherewith, an actuating unit mounted to rotate on said rod and to slidealong the same toward and from said abutment, vand means for slidingsaid actuating unit axially along said rod to engage said abutment-toeffect axial movement of said rod and the application of said clutch. y

22. In a machine of the class described,V the combination with afriction clutch, of means comprising a rotary rod movable axially toapply the clutch, an abutment mounted on said rod, a ball-bearingactuating unit mounted to rotate on said rod and to slide along the sametoward and from said abutment, and means Ifor sliding saidball-bearingactuating'unit along said rod to engage said abutment toeffect axial movement of said rod and the application-of said clutch,the

construction and arrangement being suchr that when the clutch is appliedythe sliding means is stationary while said rod and said ball-bearingunit rotaterelatively to said sliding means.

23. In a 'machine of the class described, the combination with afriction clutch, of means comprising a rod movable axially to apply" theclutch, an adjustable resilient abutment on said rod, an actuating unitmounted on said rod to slide along the same toward'and' from said re- 1silient abutment, said actuating unit when in neutral position beingspaced from said resilient abutment, andmeans for sliding said actuatingunit along said rod to engage said abutment to effect axial movement ofsaid rod and the applicombination with ay clutch, of a cam device hav-1ng an actuating cam surface and a locking cam surface, an actuatingdevice, mechanism for supporting said cam device for actuatingmovement,`

operating connections between said cam device and said clutch, saidoperating connections being separate from said cam surfaces, means onsaid actuating device for engaging said cam surfaces one after the otherto effect application'of they clutch and the locking thereof in appliedposition, mechanism mounting said actuating device in position to eiectsuch locking, and means at one end ofl the locking cam ,surface forlimiting the throw of the actuating-device from neutral position; theconstruction -r and arrangement being such that when said actuatingdevice is at the limit of its throw from neutral said locking of the"yappli-cation of the clutch will continue even after said actuatingdevice is released.

e 2,377,505 "25. In a machine of the class described, the` combinationwith a, driving shaft, of a driven v shaft, reversing `mechanismcomprising spaced friction clutches between said shafts, an operatinglever pivoted for movements of substantially less than 60 in eitherdirection from neutral position to either one of two dead centerpositions,

means for applying either clutch comprising an additional lever,adjustable lost-motion take-up mechanism between said additional leverand said friction clutches, a plate having two openings therein one forreceiving one arm `of said additional lever, the other opening havingspacedapart cam faces, and transmitting connections positions of theoperating lever but the extent of application of the clutches may varyindividually according to the adjustment of said lost-motion take-upmechanism.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with adrivingshaft, of -a driven shaft, power transmission mechanism betweensaid shafts comprising a clutch, a pivoted operating lever, a movablecam device having a cam opening therein, mechanism for guiding said camdevice rectilinearly, means extending from said Cil operating lever intosaid cam opening for effecting movement of said cam device rectilinearlyand the locking thereof slightly beyond a deadcenter position relativeto the pivot of the lever, and clutch actuating mechanism between saidcam device and said clutch. Y

`2'7. In a `machine of the class described, the combination with ashaft,of means comprising friction clutches for effecting reversal of rota-`tion of said shaft, an operating lever, a cam device having a cam-facedopening therein, means connected to said lever and extending into saidcam-faced opening in position toco-act with the ends of opposed camfaces of said opening to limit the throw of said lever in eitherdirection from neutral position,- and lost-motion operating connectionsbetween said cam device and said clutches, said last-named connectionsbeing adjustable to effect a variation in the application of theclutches in accordance with the wear thereof and thereby secureregulation of the slipping of said clutches when a predetermined loadthereon is reached. j

2s. In a machine of 'the class described, the

combinationrwith reversing means comprising e two separate frictionclutches, of a manual operating lever, a cam plate, means between saidlever and a cam-faced openingin said plate yfor limiting the throw ofsaid lever in either direction from neutral and locking the same ineither positionspaced from neutral, and actuating mechanism between saidcam plate and said friction clutches for applying the latten saidactuating mechanism being adjustable for each of said clutches `to varythe pressure applied to each clutch independently of the other, theconstruc' tion and arrangement being such that for a predeterminedmovement of the operating lever in eitherdirection from neutral thethrow of each clutch will be in accordance with the wear thereof tosecure the desired applied pressure on each clutch independently of theother.

29. In a machine of the class described, the` combination with a drivingshaft, of a driven shaft, means comprising a friction clutch forconnecting said shafts,a cam Vdevice comprising an actuating cam surfacemerging into a locking `camA surface, an actuating lever, operatingmechanism between said cam device and said clutch,

means on said actuating lever to engage said cam surfaces, and mechanismfor pivotally mounting said actuating lever position to enable saidengaging means to move along said cam surfaces successively to firstapply the clutch :and then lock it in applied position at or beyond deadcenter relative to the pivot of said actuating lever.

30.` In a` machine of the class described, the combination with adriving shaft, of a driven shaft, reversing mechanism comprisingfriction clutches associated with said driven shaft, mechanismcomprising a rod in alinement With and movable along the center of thedriven shaft axially thereof for applying said friction clutches,

an operating lever, mechanism comprising deadcenter means for limitingthe movement of `said operating lever to its opposite positions fromneutral and locking said lever in its limiting positions, andconnections between said lever and said rod comprising -adjustableabutment mech- `EDWARD G. LEWIS.

